Learning to Love Mint with NARS Habanera

Edit: A video tutorial has since been posted to create the darker look.Mint is a color I’ve always found pretty but also unwearable. Until this fall I thought mint was for fair skinned girls with blue eyes. Then, after an appointment with Aisha Alves of NARS, my opinion was forever changed.

Lots and lots of mint all at once will always be a bit much. But used subtly and mixed with the right shades (ahem…the other half of Habanera) it looks gorgeous and fresh. And as with any color that causes hesitation, a little neutral or taupe in the crease can make all the difference.

With the purple side applied first and built up slightly at the crease and outer corners of the eyes, mint makes a nice sweep of color for a soft look. I also like to take the purple under the lower lashes and a soft shimmering pink (NARS Alhambra) on the brow bone for balance.

A bolder look is created by deepening the outer corners with a black (NARS Aigle Noir) but leaving the middle bare. The purple is used at the inner and outer corners and mint is placed right in the center of the lid. A taupe works well in the crease (NARS Cairo) with shimmering pink on the browbone and inner corner (NARS Alhambra). The lower lashline has mint in the center and purple at the outside with a black liner on the waterline.

Mint? Totally wearable. And now I have no idea why I thought it wouldn’t work.

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wow! Super excited to see this, since I just acquired the Modern Love palette(which also has alhambra) and have been using a lot of the Habanera shade. Never thought to pair it with mint like that, can’t wait to try it. All my mint shadows get very little love, so this is a great new pairing idea. thanks

Don’t thank me, thank NARS ;) Isn’t it just gorgeous though? Modern Love looks beautiful and I bet Habanera is so pretty with neutrals. I must admit I often reach for duos/palettes and only pair those colors together. Never mix and match between. But I should dare to break them up and see what else I can create.